FAQs

Products

Which coating system is best to use??

The best coating system will depend upon a number of factors and will vary from job to job. Refer to the technical bulletin “Which Coating System to Use?” for further guidelines on which factors must be considered and recommended systems for these situations.

Why would I use a 2pk polyurethane instead of a single pack moisture cure??

POLYTHANE Polyurethane coatings have better chemical resistance than DURAPOL moisture cure coatings and are more suited for commercial environments such as hair dressing salons where there is the possibility of the floor coming into contact with chemicals. Where possible in these situations use mats under the chair and always be cautious where the possibility of chemical spills are present. No coating is indestructible!

Can I put water based products over polyurethane/oil modified/2 pk polyurethane products??

Yes AQUAPRO water based products can be applied over other Polycure coatings such as NATUROIL, DURAPOL and POLYTHANE coatings. The floor must be cleaned, dried and thoroughly sanded before application, refer to the product data sheet for further application information.

Can I use DURAPOL coatings on concrete??

Yes, DURAPOL 1044 Cork, Timber & Concrete Gloss is ideal for use on interior concrete. Refer to the product data sheet for further information on product application. Note: The concrete must be fully cured, (minimum 28 days if fresh) thoroughly dry and free from all contaminates.

My son/daughter are asthmatics, what is the best coating system to use in our home??

The AQUAPRO water based product range is low VOC and low odour, however Polycure recommends that you always check any health issues with your Doctor before applying coatings. Product MSDS’ are available from link to Chemwatch in the Polycure site.

Is MC polyurethane OK to use on a new floor?

This decision has to be made by the home owner and Floor sander after consultation with the Timber Supplier and installer. If approved by the timber supplier and the floor has been acclimatised and installed correctly a DURAPOL moisture cure coating can be applied, ideally over FASTASEAL 3030 Sealer. However if the timber manufacturer does not recommend the use of moisture cure coatings on new timber, Polycure NATUROIL oil based coatings should be used. For further information refer to the technical bulletin “Which Coating System to Use?”.

What coating System do you recommend on an old floor?

If the floor has little movement and no issues with moisture, a DURAPOL moisture cure coating would be recommended. If the timber floor demonstrates movement and, or has issues with moisture, one of Polycure’s NATUROIL oil based coating would be recommended. Refer to the relevant product data sheet for details on recoating.

DURAPOL moisture cure and POLYTHANE polyurethane coatings are extremely durable and are recommended where the maximum time between recoats is desired, however no coating will withstand excessive wear and tear such a dogs claws. If dogs are kept inside, to minimise the scratches keep dogs claws trimmed and where possible use a low gloss moisture cure product which will be less likely to highlight scratches in the floor. For further information on the wearing of coatings refer to the technical bulletin “Wearing of Polyurethane Coated Floors”. No coating is industructable!

Application

What type of brush or roller should I use??

Use a good quality brush to cut in around edges and skirting boards and a good quality roller for the bulk of the area. The type of roller will vary by product type, refer to the appropriate product data sheet for further information.

Can I use oil modified products in Winter??

Yes but it is recommended that NATUROIL 1499 Accelerator is added to speed up the drying time. Cold and damp environments will have an effect on drying time. In cold temperatures the coating may have to be left longer to dry between coats. Failure to do so may cause issues with the next coat i.e. frying.

How long should I keep clients out of the house after the final coat??

To minimise the risk of scratching and scuffing after the floor has been coated, the following guidelines should be followed: Walking on floor with socks or stockings – After 24 hours. Replacing furniture – After 2-3 days (longer if possible). Replacing mats and rugs – After 3-4 weeks. Damp mopping – After 2-4 weeks. Provide ventilation to the coated areas after 24 hr dry to remove the evaporating solvents.

My curtains have a terrible smell about them after I had my floors coated a week ago? What can I do??

Ideally remove curtains before coating the floor, however if they have not been removed washing them and allowing them to air dry should eliminate the odour.

What causes poor adhesion and delamination??

There are 3 main causes of delamination; Contamination of the underlying surface, Suitability of coating for surface being coated and inadequate surface preparation. Refer to the technical bulletin “Delamination” for further explanations of each of these main causes and how they can be prevented.

Why is the coating taking a long time to dry?

There are a number of factors that will affect the drying time of coatings. High film weights and pooling or ponding of the coating on the floor will slow the drying time. Low temperatures will affect drying time, where possible use accelerators to speed up drying (refer to individual product data sheets) where accelerators are not available, longer time between coats must be allowed. Surface contaminants such as oils and waxes in the timber can slow drying time especially in Brush Box, Blackbutt, Tallowwood and Spotted Gum therefore, allow extra drying time between coats which must be calculated into the project time. Applying thinner coats and increasing air flow after the coating has been drying for approximately 2 hours may also help to speed up drying time..

When applying the second coat of NATUROIL the film is wrinkling (frying).

NATUROIL oil finishes dry by a process called oxidation. The oxidation process is accelerated by the incorporation of driers in the coating. The drying starts at the surface and gradually progresses to the bottom layer of the film. Frying refers to the softening, swelling and wrinkling of the dry coating by solvents upon recoat. All oxidative drying coatings are prone to “frying” also referred to as “lifting”. Like all oxidative drying coatings, NATUROIL has a recoat window. If NATUROIL is coated soon after application (e.g. within 4-6 hours – if dry enough to walk on) or after it is fully cured (e.g. after one week) frying is unlikely to occur. Frying is most likely to occur during the period 12 to 72 hours after application. Open grain timber will increase the risk of frying due to semi-dried oil deep in the grain. The following points will maximise the potential for frying upon recoat: High film weights (coating applied too thick) Low temperatures High humidity Addition of strong solvents Pooling or ponding of the coating on the floor Open grain timber Closing all doors and windows thereby reducing airflow Sanding with too coarse grade of sandpaper or screenback and scratching and/or sanding back through earlier coating layers thereby enabling solvents to penetrate the coating and attack the semi-dried NATUROIL base coats. To minimise the potential for frying: Apply a uniform even coat to the floor and avoid pouring or ponding coating on the floor as per the instructions on the can or data sheet. Avoid the application of excessively high film weights Allow longer time to dry between coats especially during cold and/or humid conditions Add NATUROIL 1499 Accelerator in cool and damp environments Clean rollers with mineral turps and not strong solvents designed for cleaning polyurethane coatings and thoroughly dry ...

I have just had my floor coated and the food in my fridge and freezer smells funny. Is it safe to eat and if not what caused the food to be contaminated?

It is unusual for the chemicals to get into a fridge or freezer unless there is a problem with the seal. However Polycure recommends removing all food and clothing items in all rooms connected to the coated areas. All food, fabrics and all absorbent items need to be removed to prevent the potential for them to be contaminated with solvent.

How long does it take for the smell of the coating to go away?

This will depend upon the type of coating, for example solvent based coatings have a much stronger odour than water based coatings. It also depends upon the ventilation and air movement in the room. As soon as the coating is dry it is recommended that doors and windows are opened to increase air movement.

What causes yellowing of paint following the application of solvent based coatings?

Whilst this problem is rare it is possible that solvent based coatings can react with poor quality wall paints and cause the paint to yellow. Refer to the technical bulletin “Yellowing of walls following application of solvent based coatings” for further information.

Maintenance

How should I maintain my new floor??

Regularly sweep the floor with an anti static mop to prevent the build up of grit. Be careful with vacuum cleaners as the cleaning heads and bristles could scratch the floor. Remove any spills immediately. Wash the floor with a pH neutral cleaner designed for timber floors such as AQUACARE 8440 Floor Clean Concentrate. For further details on maintaining your floor refer to technical bulletin “Maintaining your timber floor”.

I bought some cleaning products that contain ammonia, can I use this on my floor??

Do not use products that contain ammonia on your timber floor. Polycure recommends using AQUACARE 8440 Floor Clean Concentrate, a pH neutral cleaner which is designed specifically for timber floors. For further details on maintaining your floor refer to technical bulletin “Maintaining your timber floor”.

I have a mat at the front do or and when I moved it the colour of the floor under the mat is lighter than the rest of the floor. Why and how can it be fixed??

Sunlight will cause colour change in all timbers. Removing the mat for a while may allow the area under the mat to “catch up” with the colour change in the rest of the timber and even out the colour of the area. If this does not fix the problem the floor may need to be sanded and recoated.

Can I use metho and water to clean my floor?

Methylated spirits is not recommended, use a pH neutral cleaner designed for timber floors such as AQUACARE 8440 Floor Clean Concentrate.

I have a scratch in my new floor is it possible to repair it and still have the same sheen level?

This will depend upon the coating type and the degree of the scratch. Refer to a professional floor sander for advice on repairing the floor.